Flexible container



March 15, 1955 w. STERN FLEXIBLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.9, 1949 www www. www

GNN H IN VEN TOR.

March 15, 1955 w. STERN FLEXIBLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Filed Dec.9, 1949 March l5, 1955 w. STERN FLEXIBLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Dec. 9, 1949 INVENTOR Waler i6/vz,

United States Patent O FLEXIBLE CONTAlNER Walter Stern, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to The Cromwell Paper Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation ofIllinois Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,170

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-53) The present invention relates to iiexiblecontainers for pckaging articles which are to be shipped, stored or theThe general object of the invention is to provide an improved expansibleform of flexible container which can be opened up to alarger-than-normal size to facilitate the insertion of an article orarticles into the container, following which the container can then bereduced to its normal size for obtaining a relatively snug fit over thearticle or articles.

One embodiment of my invention which particularly illustrates theadvantages of being able to first expand or distend the container at thetime of article insertion, and then reduce or contract the containerinto a snug fit over the article for shipment, storage or the like, isexemplified by an expansible paper bag for packaging a mattress. Becauseof the large size, weight and relative rigidity of a mattress,particularly one of the inner spring type, it is ordinarily verydifficult to insert a mattress into a snug fitting paper bag, asspecified by common carriers for interstate transit. A paper bag of theproper weight and texture of paper can serve very satisfactorily for theshipment and storage of a mattress, but one of the principal objectionsto the use of a paper bag for this type of packaging has been thedifficulty of getting the mattress quickly and easily into a snugfitting bag without damaging the bag. The relatively snug fit of the bagover the mattress in the finished package is required so as to minimizetearing of the bag in handling the package.

I obtain the above described expansible feature in my improved bag bythe provision of a unique, supplemental gusset which supplements themain gusset along one side edge of the bag. This supplemental gussetenables the entrance opening of the bag and also the main body of thebag to be opened up to an expanded size, so as to facilitate theinsertion of the mattress into the bag, following which the supplementalgusset can be folded down and into the main gusset so that the bag isreduced to its normal packaging size for obtaining a relatively snug fitover the mattress. Supplemental gussets of this type can be providedalong both side edges of the bag if desired, but ordinarily theprovision of one supplemental gusset along one side edge of the bag isadequate to give the necessary range of expansion to the bag.

Another object of the invention resides in an improved arrangement of asupplemental gusset which can be folded back into closed position andinto the main gusset after the insertion of the contained article intothe bag, so that the supplemental gusset thereupon becomes a part of themain gusset. This closing and folding of the supplemental gusset backinto the main gusset brings the bag back to its normal size, and thesupplemental gusset is preferably adhesively joined to the main gussetat this time to retain the snug fit of the bag over the article.

In this regard, another feature of the invention resides in an improvedarrangement of the main and supplemental gussets whereby a pressuresensitive type of adhesive may be employed for adhesively joining thesupplemental gusset to the main gusset. The use of pressure sensitiveadhesive on these bag containers is frequently objectionable because ofthe possibility of two adhesive coated surfaces of such a bag beingaccidentally brought together while the empty bags are being transportedor stored, or before the article has been completely inserted into thebag; also because of the possibility that two of these adhesive coatedsurfaces may be brought together ICC at the wrong angle or wronglocation, with the result that these surfaces cannot be separated forproper use of the bag and hence the bag must be discarded. I avoid orminimize these difficulties by an improved arrangement wherein thepressure sensitive adhesive is placed upon one of the panels of the maingusset and upon an adjoining panel of the supplemental gusset, andwherein these two panels are arranged to lie flat in coplanaredge-to-edge relationship while the bag is in its empty, flat conditionfor shipment or storage. This relation of these two panels prevents thepanels from contacting each other until it is desired to have them do soin the final operation of folding the supplemental gusset closed andinto the main gusset.

I wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to paperbags, but that this supplemental gusset feature can also be embodied inbags or flexible containers made of treated fabric, plastic or any otherdesired material. Also, the invention is not limited to mattress bags.Still further, while the use of pressure sensitive adhesive for joiningthe supplemental gusset to the main gusset is preferred, nevertheless itwill be understood that the securing of these two gussets together afterthe insertion of the article into the bag may be effected by a moistenedtype of adhesive, or by heat sealing, stapling, or in any other suitablemanner. Moreover, the supplemental gusset does not have to be anextension of the regular gusset, but could, for example, be located downthe center of the bag.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings illustrating one preferredembodiment of my improved exible container, and one preferred method ofmaking the same;

Figure l is a plan view of the original blank of the bag, upon which lhave illustrated by crease lines, folding lines, panel areas, foldingslit, etc. the subsequent operations which are performed upon this blankin producing Lilie nished bag, this View illustrating the inside of theFigure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the reverse or outer sideof the blank, particularly that portion which foms the bottom of the bagat the supplemental gusset s1 e;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower corner of thebag at the supplemental gusset side, showing the finished bag, in itsflat folded condition;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken approximately onthe plane of the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5, 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views through the finishedbag, showing the different stages of expanding the supplemental gussetto open position for article insertion, then folding it inwardly afterthe article has been inserted into the bag, and finally sealing thefolded supplemental gusset to the main gusset; and

Figures 8, 9 and l() are fragmentary rear perspective views of the bag;Figure 8 showing the main gussets expanded but the supplemental gussetnot expanded; Figure 9 showing the bag in a partly folded condition; andFigure l0 showing the supplemental gusset folded down almost flat uponthe body of the bag.

Referring rst to Figure l, this illustrates the original blank fromwhich the bag is made, this blank being of oblong, rectangular shape cutof at stock, either transversely of the length of the stock orlongitudinally thereof. In order to facilitate an understanding of thesubsequent folding and adhering operations, Figure 1 illustrates theinner side of the original blank, corresponding to that side which willbe the inside of the finished bag. Also, that portion of the blankappearing at the top in Figure 1 represents that portion of the blankwhich will form the bottom of the finished bag. The bag will bedescribed as having a single supplemental gusset disposed at the lefthand side of the finished bag and projecting outwardly from the maingusset and from the front panel of the bag, but this reference to leftand right, front and back is purely relative for the purpose offacilitating an understanding of the invention, and is not limitative.

The creasing or folding lines are indicated by dashand-dot lines, thesecreasing or folding operations being performed upon the blank after thecutting of the blank out of the stock strip, these creasing or foldingoperations being performed either entirely by one or more foldingmachines, or partly by the cutting machine after the cuttingv operationand partly by a folding machine. Different bag manufacturers havedifferent preferred practices in this regard.

The large rectangular area near the center of the blank, designated 15,constitutes the main back panel in the finished bag, the front panelbeing in this description considered as that part of the bag which isformed by adhesively joining the overlapping edges of the blank togetherdown the center of the bag. This front portion of the bag comprises aleft hand panel, designated 16, which is adapted to fold over the frontside of the back panel 15, to constitute the left hand half of the frontpanel. Correspondingly, a right hand panel, designated 17, extends fromthe right hand edge of the back panel and is adapted to fold over thefront side of this back panel to constitute the right hand half of thefront panel. These left and right hand half-panels are secured togetherin lapped relation, to form a bag seam extending down the approximatecenter of the front panel. In the adhesive joining stage of the bagforming operation, adhesive 18 is applied over the adhesive zone or areaon the back side of the right hand half-panel 17, this adhesive areabeing indicated by the dotted lines 19. When the left and right handhalf-panels are brought together in overlapping relation to form thefront of the bag, these two half-panels are secured together by means ofthe adhesive 18.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the left handedge of the finished bag is shown as being provided with a main gussetand a supplemental gusset, and the right hand edge of the bag is shownsimply as having a main or plain folding gusset. Referring first to thisright hand edge, this main or plain folding gusset, designated 21, islocated between the back panel 15 and the right hand front half-panel17. This plain gusset comprises a gusset back panel 21a and a gussetfront panel 2lb which meet at a reverse crease line 21C. The back panel21a is defined between the reverse crease line 21c and a crease line21d, and the front panel 2lb is defined between the reverse crease line21C and the front crease line 21e. The manner in which this right handgusset 21 extends outwardly and folds inwardly will be apparent from theperspective view of the bag shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to that part of the blank which will form the left handedge of the finished bag, this portion also has a conventional orstandard gusset, in addition to the new and improved supplementalgusset, as above described. This standard or main left hand gusset,designated 22, comprises a gusset back panel 22a, and a gusset frontpanel 22b, which meet along a reverse crease line 22C. The panel 22a isdefined between the reverse crease line 22e` and the crease line 22d,and the front panel 22b is defined between the reverse crease line 22eand the reverse crease line 22e. This left hand main gusset 22 can bepractically the same as the right hand gusset 21.

Referring now to the supplemental gusset, designated 23 in its entirety,this supplemental gusset comprises an inner panel 23a and an outer panel23b which join along crease line 23C. I have used the terms inner andouter to designate the panels 23a and 23b, because when the supplementalgusset 23 is closed and folded down into its final position in adhesiveengagement with the main gusset 22, the panel 23a will lie on the insideof this fold and the panel 23b will lie on the outside. This inner panel23a is defined between the crease line 23C and the reverse crease line22e, and the outer panel 23b is defined between the crease line 23C andthe reverse crease line 23d. The backs or outside surfaces of the maingusset panel 22b and of the adjoining supplemental gusset panel 23a areboth coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive 24, when this mode offastening the supplemental gusset is employed.

An auxiliary folding line or reverse crease 26 is provided between theleft hand half-panel 16 and the supplemental gusset folding line 23d.The space between these two folding lines 26 and 23d defines anauxiliary panel 27 of the same width as the gusset panels 21a, 2lb, 22a,22b, etc. This auxiliary folding line 26 enables the adhesive bearingpanels 22b and 23a of the main and supplemental gussets 22 and 23,respectively, to be folded down fiat in the same common plane when theempty bags are folded flat for storage or shipment, as shown in Figures4 and 10. This prevents the two adhesive bearing panels of the main andsupplemental gussets from accidentally contacting each other prior tothe opening of the bag and the insertion of the contained articletherein.

The bag may be made with a so-called square bottom or Satchel bottom, orwith any other desired formation of bottom so long as it does notinterfere with the functioning of the supplemental gusset 23. In thedrawings, I have illustrated the folding operations inci dental toproducing a square bottom bag, but it will be understood that theinvention is not necessarily limited thereto. A conventional manner ofproducing this square bottom is to provide panel areas 31, 32, separatedby a crease line 33, extending transversely across the end of the backpanel 15; to provide panel areas 34, 35 separated by a crease line 36,extending transversely across the end of the half-panel 16; and toprovide panels 37 and 38, separated by a crease 39, extending across theend of the other half-panel 17. A crease line 41 enables the panels 31and 32 to be folded inwardly with respect to the back panel 15, andcrease lines 42 and 43 enable the panels 34, 35 and 37, 38 to be foldedoutwardly with respect to the half-panels 16 and 17. Diagonal foldinglines 44 and 45 extend diagonally outwardly from the center crease line21c of the right hand gusset 21, so as to provide for the square bottomformation at the right hand side of the bottom. Certain differencesoccur where the main gusset and supplemental gusset intersect the bottompanels at the left hand side of the bag. For example, three diagonalfolding lines 46, 47 and 47 extend upwardly from the crease line 33 tothe edge of the blank, and additional diagonal folding lines 48, 49 and50 are disposed downwardly and to the right of folding line 46. Also, afolding slit 51 is cut transversely across the panels 23a and 23b of thesupplemental gusset substantially in line with or between the ends ofthe bottom crease lines 33 and 36.

In the folding and joining operations, adhesive is applied on the innerside of the blank (Figure 1) along the edge portion of panel 31, asindicated at 55. On the opposite or outer side of the blank, adhesive isalso applied on the areas indicated by the dotted lead lines 56, 57 and58 (Figure 1). Also, on this outer side, adhesive is applied on theareas 59, 60, 61 and 62 (Figure 2).

The folding of the bottom of the bag at the right hand side will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art, since it follows conventionalpractice in the formation of a square bottom bag. Figure 2 fragmentarilyillustrates the left hand portion of the blank turned over for thepurpose of illustrating the folding operation at the left hand side. Atthis side, the two panel areas 65 and 66 which lie just beyond thefolding slit 51 can be folded together toward the inside of the bag, andadhesively joined in this folded condition. The slit 51 permits thepanels 65 and 66 to fold inwardly while still permitting thesupplemental gusset panels 23a and 23b, which are coextensive with thepanel areas 65 and 66, to fold outwardly. The front half-panel 16 isthen folded over the front side of the back panel 15. Triangular area 67is thereupon folded over along the fold lines 23d and 46 to overlieportions of the panel areas 68 and 69, and is then secured thereto.Triangular area 71 is then folded outwardly and upwardly along foldinglines 22d and 47 to overlie portions of the outside surfaces of panelarea 68 and bottom flap 34; being then secured to these surfaces. Thejoining of the inside edge portion 55 of the central bottom flap portion31 to the outside surfaces of the other two bottom flap portions 34 and37 completes the folding and joining at the bottom of the bag, which,together with the adhesive uniting of the half-panels 16 and 17 alongthe seam line of the bag, completes the folding and joining operations.

Upon the completion of the bag to this stage, the main gusset andsupplemental gusset are folded out fiat across the top of the bag, inthe position shown in Figures 3 and 4. This folding occurs along thecrease lines 22d and 26. This places the outer surface of main gussetpanel 22b and the outer surface of supplemental gusset panel 23a in fiatco-planar relation, substantially as shown in Figures 4 and 8. Thepressure sensitive adhesive 24 is then spread over these two surfaces22b and 23a. Following this, the bags are stored or shipped in this fiatcondition, with the tacky surfaces of the pressure sensitive adhesivearranged in alternating relation first on one side and then on the otherside of the stack of bags, so

that these tacky surfaces of adjacent bags do not come in contact witheach other.

When the bag is to be used for packaging a mattress or other article,the bag is opened up in conventional manner, i. e. the right hand gussetis opened, the left hand main gusset is opened, and the bottom of thebag made flat, so that the bag is then of its normal size. When startingthe insertion of a mattress M into the bag, or the bag over themattress, the left hand side of the bag is expanded in size by openingup the supplemental gusset 23, as illustrated in Figure 5. This greatlyincreases the entry area of the bag along this left hand edge. so thatthe mattress can be inserted much more easily and more quickly than witha conventional bag. This expanded 'dimension of the bag along the lefthand side extends practically to the bottom of the bag. After themattress has been inserted all the way to the bottom of the bag, thesupplemental gusset is folded back into a closed relation (Figure 6) andis then folded inwardly into or over the main gusset 22. As the finaloperation, the tacky surface of the supplemental gusset panel 23a isthen pressed iirmly in against the tacky surface of the main gussetpanel 22b, in order to seal the supplemental gusset in its closed,folded position against the main gusset (see Figure 7). The open end ofthe bag can then be closed in any preferred manner. The closed bag thusaffords a tight or snug fitting enclosure for the mattress.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferredembodiment of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that suchis merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangementsmay be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

A exible container comprising a rectangular front main panel, arectangular rear main panel, a left hand main gusset and a right handmain gusset, both of rectangular form, located at the left and righthand sides of the container respectively, said left hand main gussetcomprising a front rectangular main gusset panel and a on said innersupplemental gusset panel, said main and supplemental gussets joiningsaid front and rear main panels for movement toward and away from oneanother, said container normally assuming a contracted or rst positionwherein said front and rear main panels contact one another but havetheir edges offset from one another by the width of each of said leftand right hand main gussets, wherein said left hand main gusset overliessaid front main panel, wherein said supplemental gusset is folded andalso overlies said front main panel, and wherein the pressure-sensitiveadhesive coated left hand front main gusset panel and thepressure-sensitive adhesive coated inner supplemental gusset panel lieat in coplanar or edge-to-edge relationship to prevent contacttherebetween during shipment and storage of the empty container, saidcontainer being expandable to an enlarged or second position whereinsaid front main panel and said rear main panel are spaced apart, whereinsaid left and right hand main gussets are positioned generally normal tothe plane of said rear main panel, wherein said supplemental gusset isunfolded and said front main panel is disposed in spaced relation and atan inclination to said rear rectangular main gusset panel, said rearmain gusset panel of said left hand main gusset being joined to saidrear main panel, a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the outer surface ofsaid front main gusset panel of the left hand main gusset, a rectangularsupplemental gusset at the left hand side of the container joining saidleft hand main gusset to said front main panel, said supplemental gussetcomprising an inner supplemental gusset panel, an outer supplementalgusset panel and an auxiliary supplemental gusset panel, all ofrectangular form and joined to each other and joined to the front maingusset panel of said left hand main gusset and to said front main panelby crease lines, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive rear main panel, inwhich position said container is unfolded for the ready insertion of anarticle into said container, said supplemental gusset thereafter beingadapted to be folded to a closed position overlying said left hand maingusset to contract said container to a third position, wherein saidfront main panel is disposed in spaced parallel relation to said rearmain panel, whereby said con tainer closely conforms to theconfiguration of the article inserted therein, in which third positionthe adhesive coated surfaces of said left hand front main gusset paneland of said inner supplemental gusset panel are pressed together inadhering relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS134,244 Benner Dec. 24, 1872 392,964 McCulla Nov. 13, 1888 1,030,655Ellis June 25, 1912 1,789,699 Durham Ian. 20, 1931 2,051,711 HeywoodAug. 18, 1936 2,085,038 Perreton June 29, 1937 2,205,529 Heywood June25, 1940 2,386,062 Roehrl Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,998 FranceAug. 28, 1920 55,656 Denmark Dec. 19, 1938 94,989 Sweden Dec. 29, 193861,243 Netherlands May 16. 1948 614,223 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1948

